Wynne Gray: Media battle fifth test for the All Blacks

Amazing isn't it, how long it takes for video film to be processed in Britain? Fortunate though, that four months after his shoulder was dislocated in New Zealand, Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll is able to present new footage of the incident to help explain the words in his book.

What will be neither amazing nor fortunate for the All Blacks will be the media firestorm that will greet them when they arrive in Britain this weekend for the start of their attempt at the Grand Slam.

The aftermath of the double tackle from Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu, which ended O'Driscoll's tour, dominated media coverage and scrutiny of the Lions tour for at least the following week.

When the IRB's latest edict about the dangers of spear tackles was presented this week alongside evidence through the latest film, it became another media opportunity. The timing was impeccable - O'Driscoll's book, the All Blacks arrival, the still simmering pain of the Lions' failure.

There will not be any letup until after the Irish test, not unless the Brits find a juicier topic, which they think can disrupt the All Blacks. Coach Graham Henry conceded as much before his side left. He should know, having seen the fourth estate in action when he coached Wales and the Lions.

"All we can say is it was an unfortunate incident, let's move on.

"We feel for Brian O'Driscoll, he is an outstanding rugby player and a top man and there is a lot of sympathy for his injury," he said.

"But it was an accident and I think it is time the rugby world moved on from there."

Henry pointed out he could not control the reaction in Britain, but they should be better prepared than they were in defence of Umaga in New Zealand.

The All Black management was clumsy in their reaction, they dithered because of their indignation, they waited too long to present Umaga and his sympathy.

The tour agreement was awkward because citings had to be made within 12 hours and surprisingly commissioner Willem Venter did not call anyone to a hearing before scuttling off to South Africa.

Conveniently glossed over during the Lions tour was a spear tackle from Irish midfielder Gordon D'Arcy on Rua Tipoki during the loss to the New Zealand Maori.

There was some mumbled apology but, because Tipoki was unhurt, that incident has been overlooked and is unlikely to figure in the talk leading into the Irish test.

O'Driscoll's book and the am-cam footage looks like the opening gambit to destabilise the All Blacks. You do not need to be Nostradamus to know there will be others.

On the 1993 tour, centre Phil de Glanville suffered a nasty facial wound after some All Black rucking during their match at Redruth.

Accusations raged on but no culprit was fingered. The incident got more mileage as de Glanville's father was part of the firm which supplied the All Blacks with their scrum machines on tour.

The drama reached peculiar proportions when the English Rugby Union, fuelled by media pressure, called a rucking summit before the end of the tour.

There was another diversion on that tour with an accusation of racism from England prop Victor Ubogu. Finally there was a legitimate complaint about Jamie Joseph stomping on halfback Kyran Bracken, but coach Laurie Mains was hugely defensive by then and messed up the response.

Similar pressure came in 1997 when the All Blacks were accused by Neil Back of cheating at the breakdowns while they were then taunted during a haka and by England's lap of honour at Old Trafford.

While recasting of the O'Driscoll episode has created some early heat, there is plenty more fertile ground for the British media to plough over.

For starters, when will the downmarket tabloids bring on their spin and what treatment will they give to Byron Kelleher and his porn star girlfriend?

What will they make of Andrew Hore and his conviction this year for shooting a protected fur seal or the revelations from Anton Oliver about life inside the All Blacks?

Then there was Jimmy Cowan's exit from the Juniors' tour of Australia for a drink-related incident, allegations of an altercation involving Sione Lauaki and the fraud conviction for Mils Muliaina's girlfriend.

The battle with the British media will be the fifth test for the All Black management.